Laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly

ABSTRACT

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A LATERALLY-DISENGAGEABLE UPRIGHT HIGHWAY MARKER ASSEMBLY THAT IS RELATIVELY UPRIGHTLY STABLE YET THAT IS ADAPTED TO LATERALLY DISENGAGE FROM ITS LOWER EARTH ANCHORING PORTION UPON THE APPLICATION OF RELATIVELY LOW LATERAL FORCES TO SAID HIGHWAY MARKER ASSEMBLY, SO THAT WHEN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTALLY STRAYS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND STRIKES THE UPRIGHT SIGNPOST PORTION OF THE MARKER ASSEMBLY, THE LOFTY SIGNPOST PORTION WILL READILY LATERALLY DISENGAGE FROM THE EARTH ANCHORING PORTION SO AS TO MINIMIZE THE LIKELIHOOD AND SEVERITY OF INJURY TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE&#39;&#39;S OCCUPANTS.

R. L.. VIERREGGER March Z3, 119W LATERALLY-DISENGAGEABLE HIGHWAY MARKER ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY R. L.. VIEREGGEIR March 23, 1971 LATERALLY-DISENGAGEABLE HIGHWAY MARKER v ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. S6. 1969 RALPH L. l//ERREGGE'R INVENTOR BY nf )QWL ATTORNEY March 23, 1971 R. L. VIERREGGER 3,5 72,223

LATERALLY-DISENGAGEABLE HIGHWAY MARKER ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. SC. 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet i 'lll'I RAL PH L. V/ERREGGE? INVENTOR.

March 2 3, 1971 R. L. Vlr-:RREGGER 3,572,223

LATERALLY-DISENGAGEABLE HIGHWAY MARKER ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. :6.1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 '2 RALPH L. V/ERREGGER HG 9 26 INVENTOR BY d ylf/MVVPL'L,

ATTORNEY United States APatent O 3,572,223 LATERALLY-DISENGAGEABLE HIGHWAY MARKER ASSEMBLY Ralph L. Vierregger, 11664 Pierce, Omaha, Nebr. 68144 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 674,261,

Oct. 10, 1967. This application Aug. 26, 1969, Ser. No. 853,065

lut. Cl. E04h 1 2/ 00 U.S. Cl. 94-15 7 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to a laterally-disengageable upright highway marker assembly that is relatively uprightly stable yet that is adapted to laterally disengage from its lower earth anchoring portion upon the application of relatively low lateral forces to said highway marker assembly, so that when a motor vehicle accidentally strays from the highway and strikes the upright signpost portion of the marker assembly, the lofty signpost portion will readily laterally disengage from the earth anchoring portion so as to minimize the likelihood and severity of injury to the motor vehicles occupants.

This is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 674,261 of Oct. l0, 1967 now abandoned.

Highway marker assemblies of the prior art invariably comprise a lower anchoring-means zone, such as a concrete base member lirmly embedded into the earth, said base member integrally including a plurality of upwardly-extending threaded metallic studs; and further comprise an upright lofty signpost zone having a suitably perforate horizontal bottom-plate that is rigidly attached to the integral studs of the concrete base member of the anchoring-means zone, whereby the said rigid highway markers of the prior art present a relatively-immovable dangerous obstacle to straying motor vehicles, and particularly to the occupants thereof.

It is accordingly the general object of the present invention to provide a laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly that is relatively uprightly stable under normal atmospheric forces, and yet that is adapted to laterally disengage from the lower anchoring-means zone when struck in lateral directions by a straying motor vehicle so as to minimize the likelihood and severity of physical injury to the vehicles human occupants.

It is a specific object of the present invention to provide a laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly that is of simple and economic manufacture, reliable in operation, weather-resistant, and easy to maintain.

It is another object to provide a laterally-disengageable highway marker that is equally adaptable for original installations and that might also employ the concrete base member components of existing highway marker installations whereby the cost of installing laterally-disengageable highway markers at existing sites is minimized.

It is yet another object to provide a laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly that may be utilized on existing highway marker sites whereby the rigid prior art structure might be readily partially disassembled and replaced by the laterally-disenengageable structure of the present invention utilizing the existing prior art concrete base member (including the integral threaded studs thereof) that had already been laboriously and expensively been embedded into the earth, and perhaps many years in the past. This objective is attained with the novel adapter portion of this invention.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a laterally-disengageable highway marker that is adapted to laterally disengage in a wide range of lateral 3,572,223 Patented Mar. 23, 1971 'ice directions by a straying motor vehicle without inoperative damage to the embedded base member component nor to the integral upwardly-extending threaded studs thereof, nor to the essential and novel adapter portion of the present invention.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, which will become more apparent as this description proceeds, the laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly of the present invention generally comprises a novel upright adapter member attached to the earth, said adapter including a relatively narrow upright riser disposed along an upright central axis and further including a transverse upper-flange attached to the upper portion of the riser and having a peripheral boundary disposed laterally outwardly of both the upright central axis and the relatively narrow riser, said adapter upper-ilange being attached to the transverse bottom-plate portion of an upright lofty signpost with a plurality of upright fastenermeans vertically extending across the juncture of the signpost bottom-plate and the adapter upper-flange, the upright portion of each of said fastener-means being disposed laterally outwardly of the lateral peripheral boundaries of the adapter uppr-ange and of the signpost bottom-plate.

In the drawing, wherein like characters refer to like parts in the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective elevational view of a representative embodiment of the laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly of the present invention invention including the important adapter member constituent thereof.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the assembled laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sideward elevational view of the laterallydisengageable highway marker assembly embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, an automobile motor vehicle being shown at the instant of impact against the highway marker assembly. Phantom lines indicate schematically the laterallydisengaged signpost portion immediately following impact by the automobile.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the squared-C type clamp upright fastener-means utilized in the laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly of FIGS. l-4.

FIG. `6 is a perspective view of a modied type adapter member utilized in the alternate embodiment laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly of FIG. 9.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the modified type adapter member of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective View of a hooked-disc component utilized in the alternate highway marker assembly embodiment of FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a sectional elevational view analogous to FIG. 2 of an alternate embodiment of the laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly utilizing the adapter of FIGS. 7 and 6 and the hooked-disc component of FIG. 8.

Typical prior art upright highway marker assemblies, will ynow be briefly described. Prior art structures extend loftily vertically upwardly from the earths surface F along an upright central axis A and comprise two distinct zones along the upright central axis A including a relatively short anchoring-means zone, e.g. a concrete footing base member 10 embedded into the earth E, and further including a relatively tall upright lofty signpost zone 40. The signpost zone 40 provides the preponderant height of the highway marker assemblies along axis A including a lofty center-of-gravity C G. and comprises a vertically disposed visual indicator or signboard 47 at the top end 49 (herein indicating EXIT), a substantially horizontal bottomplate 41 having vertical holes 48 therethrough at the signpost bottom end, and an upright elongate relatively-narrow intermediate standard 45 disposed along axis A and attached to bottom-plate 41 and signboard 47 so as to elevate signboard 47 a lofty distance above the earths surface F. A base member as concrete footing 10 converges upwardly from the bottom end 13 and from the earths surface F toward axis A and terminates as a substantially planar upper surface 11; there is commonly a plurality of (and usually four) vertical studs 14 integrally embedded into the concrete footing 10, each stud extending upwardly from the concrete footing upper surface 11. The threaded studs 14 extend upwardly through the respective holes 4S of signpost bottom-plate 41, threaded nuts, e.g. 17, engaging studs 14 completing the attachment between base member 10 and signpost bottom-plate 41, the signpost lower surface 43 directly abutting base member upper surface 11. It is well known that the prior art highway marker assembly described in this paragraph provides an exceedingly rigid and laterally-non-disengageable, and hence dangerous, obstacle for errant motor vehicles, e.g. for automobiles V.

The laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly of the present invention, e.g. M, 9M, does employ conventional signpost zones, e.g. 40, and also the conventional base member, e.g. studded concrete footings 10. However, the lofty signpost zone 40 of the highway marker assembly of the present invention, although being remarkably resistant to high winds and other normally encountered environmental stresses, will laterally-disengage with respect to the anchoring-means zone earth-bound connection. Such lateral-disengageability is achieved by the combination of the novel adapter member, e.g. 20, 120, rigidly attached immediately above base member 10 as the upper portion of the anchoring-means zone, the adapter integral upperflange, e.g. 21, 121, being attached to the signpost bottomplate 41 with a plurality of upright fastener-means, eg. 60, 90 with 101; the fastener-means upright portion is disposed laterally outwardly of the lateral peripheral boundaries of the adapter upper-flange and of the signpost bottomplate.

Adapter member 20, which is employed in the laterallydisengageable highway marker assembly embodiment M of FIGS. 14, has a relatively narrow riser portion 25 (herein of rectangular cross-sectional shape) extending upwardly above the earths surface F along upright central axis A. Adapter 20 might include a vertical axial bore 26 therethrough along axis A between upper-flange upper surface 22 and lower-flange lower surface 29` to accommodate along bore 26 an electrical conductor 16, in the event that signboard 47 is to be electrically illuminated. The adapter member 20, which provides the upper portion f the anchoring-means zone, is rigidly and substantially laterally-nondisengageably attached to the earthbound base member as by means of a transverse lower-flange 27 integrally attached, as by welding, to the lower end of riser 2S. The herein rectangular horizontal lower-flange 27 has a pair of parallel opposed horizontal surfaces including an upper surface 28 and a planar lower surfce 29. Lowerange 27 includes a plurality of vertical perforations 18 (herein four in number) in registry with the four upright vertical studs 14 of base member 10. Adapter 20 is removably, yet substantially laterally-nondisengageably, attached to base member 10 by vertically inserting the threaded studs 14 through respective lower-flange perforations 18 whereby the flat lower surface 29 directly abuts the base member llat upper surface 11, threaded nuts 17 engaging the respective studs 14 and bearing downwardly against the lower-ange 27 at upper surface 28. Alternatively, at newly-cast concrete base members 10, the adapter riser 25 or the adapter lower-flange 27 might be cast or otherwise embedded therein, with the adapter upper-llange 21 extending above the concrete footing.

There is an upper-flange 21 for adapter 20 which transversely intersects axis A and is integrally attached, as by welding, to the upper end of riser 25. Herein horizontal upper ange 21 includes, as the adapter upper terminus, and less than about twelve inches above the earths surface F, a flat substantially-uniplanar horizontal upper surface 22. Upper-flange 21 has a peripheral boundary 24 completely laterally outwardly of the upright central axis A and also the upper end of riser 25 whereby the lateral area dened by peripheral boundary 24 exceeds the crosssectional area defined by riser 25 by a factor of at least two and preferably of four. The upper-flange lateral periphery boundary 24 surrounds axis A and is substantially vertically upright between the upper and lower surfaces 22-23, said periphery 24 comprising at least two elongate parallel linear edges disposed on opposite sides of axis A, and herein, upper-flange 211 is rectangular with two pairs of such elongate linear edges for boundary 24. The upper and lower horizontal surfaces 22-23 are flat and substantially parallel whereby the upright thickness of upper-flange 21 along peripheral boundary 24 is of a regular given-thickness T. The upright distance between upper-flange lower surface 23 and lower-flange upper surface 28 is desirably less than the lateral distance between oppositely disposed elongate edges of peripheral boundary 24.

As heretofore alluded to, there ,is a plurality of laterallydisengageable upright fastener-means for joining the signpost zone `40 to the underlying anchoring-means zone at a transitional-environment" located uprightly between the adapter upper-flange, e.g. 20, 120, and the signpost bottom-plate, e.g. 41, 41A. For the highway marker assembly embodiment of FIGS. 1 4, the squared-C type metallic clamps 60 shown in FIG. 5 provide such laterally-disengageable upright fastener-means. Each clamp 60 is of a squared-C shape in elevation and comprises a pair of substantially parallel horizontal-arms 61 and 63 in structurally-continuous connected relationship with an intervening upright arm 62. Clamp arms 61-63 are each of substantially equal heavy thickness, on the order of about said given-thickness T and exceeding about 1/2 inch, so as to provide the strong yet laterally-disengageable connection between upper-ange 21 and bottom-plate 41, and in this vane, cast-iron clamp arms 61-63 are preferred. The squared-C shape interior contour of clamps 60 comprises the three substantially-planar mutually-perpendicular internal surfaces of arms 61-63. At least one of the clamp horizontal-arms, herein as 61, is vertically threadedly perforate therethrough and a vertical threaded stud, e.g. 64, is engaged therewith.

The upper signpost zone 40 of the laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly embodiment M of FIGS. 1-4 is generally within the purview of the prior art and has been already alluded to. Other noteworthy features of the signpost zone, as they bear upon invention embodiment M, relate primarily to the signpost bottom-plate, e.g. 41, which is similarly transverse t0 axis A as is the adapter upper-flange. Bottom-plate 41 includes as the signpost lower terminus a flat transverse (herein horizontal) lower surface 43 having a peripheral boundary 44 completely laterally surrounding upright axis A. The bottom-plate lateral peripheral boundary `44 is substantially vertically upright between the upper and lower surfaces 42-43 and comprises at least two elongate parallel lineal edges disposed on opposite sides of axis A in substantial vertical registry with a pair of elongate parallel upright lineal edges of adapter upper-flange 21. Herein, both the adapter upper-flange 21 and signpost bottom-plate 4'1 are rectangular with the respective four upright linear edges of each being respectively conterminous and in vertical registry. The bottom-plate upper and lower horizontal surfaces 42 and 43 are flat and substantially parallel whereby the upright thickness of bottom-plate 41 along peripheral boundary 44 is of a regular given-thickness, such as T.

In the event that bottom-plate lower surface `43 and the upper-flange upper surface Z2 are relatively rough and not substantially smoothly uniplanar, a low-friction layer sheet material 30 might be interposed between surfaces 43 and 22 to further facilitate lateral-disengageability of bottom-plate 41 rwith respect to adapter 20. Low-friction layer 30 is preferably as a structurally self-sustaining resiliently-compressible sheet material having a pair of opposed horizontal smoothly-planar parallel surfaces including an upper surface 31 and a lower surface 32. Preferrred smoothly-surfaced sheet materials include fluorinated and silicated resins, e.g. Teflonf The peripheral boundary 34 of low-friction layer 30 completely laterally surrounds axis A and includes elongate upright linear edges conterminous and vertically aligned with the similarly mutually conterminous and vertically aligned upright linear edges of boundaries 24 and 44. Layer 30 might include a central opening 36 in Vertical registry -with standard-bore I46 and riser-bore 26 to accommodate electrical conductor 16 if signboard 47 is electrically illuminated.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, said upright fastener-means as four `clamps 60 are utilized to securely, yet laterally-disengageably, attach signpost bottom-plate 41 to adapter member 20. The optional low-friction layer 30 is shown interposed between bottom-plate 41 and upperflange 21 with sheet-material upper surface 31 ilatly abutting the bottom-plate lower surface 43 and with sheetmaterial lower surface 32 ilatly abutting the upper-flange upper surface 22. In the absence of low-friction layer 30, the bottom-plate lower surface 43 would directly abut upper-flange upper surface 22. With each clamp 60, the upright planar interior surface of upright-arm `62 flatly abuts the vertically aligned upright linear edges of peripheries 24 and 44, and also 34 if intervening layer 30 be employed. Thus, the horizontal planar interior surfaces of horizontal-arms 61 and 63 would be abuttable against respective planar surfaces 42 and 23 along boundaries 44 and 24. Manipulation of threaded studs 64 would cause bottom-plate 41 to be drawn tightly downwardly toward upper-flange 211 so as to complete the required engagement of signpost 40 including bottom-plate 41 to adapter member 20.

Performance of the laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly embodiment M is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4, full lines being employed to illustrate the assembly M just prior to being laterally struck by automobile V and phantom lines being employed to illustrate the subsequently laterally-disengaged signpost zone 40. Highway marker assembly embodiment M has an anchoring-means zone comprising the adapter upperflange 21, as the upper end thereof, the upright distance between the upper-flange upper surface 22 and the earths surface F being H and on the order of less than twelve inches. Assembly embodiment M has a lofty signpost zone 40 having a top end 49 and an upright height extending between top end 49 and bottom end 43, the signpost zone height exceeding H by a factor of at least 5 whereby the signpost center-of-gravity C.G. is disposed loftily above bottom-plate 41 below top end 49. At the instant of lateral impact of motor vehicle V against highway marker assembly embodiment M, the vehicles front bumper B is disposed above bottom-plate 41 whereby the automobile makes initial contact with the signpost zone upright standard 45 and above bottom-plate 41. Immediately, as indicated in phantom line, signpost zone 40 is propelled laterally forwardly, accompanied by the signpost lower portions including bottom-plate 41 pivoting herein clockwise about center-of-gravity C G. These forward and pivotal forces upon signpost zone 40 cause the upright fastener means, e.g. clamps 60, and the entire signpost 40 to be laterally-disengaged from adapter 20. The adapters connection to base member 10, by virtue of threaded studs 14 engaged to lower-flange 27 with threaded nuts 17, is exceeding more resistant to lateral forces expended against signpost 40 than is the said connection between adapter 20 and bottom-plate 41. Thus,

except for unusually violent collisions, the adapter 20 and base member 10 remain intact and can be salvaged after each collision with the signpost zone 40, and in relatively minor collisions even the signpost Zone can be salvaged and re-used.

Performance of the highway marker assembly 8M of FIG. 9, which is based upon the novel adapter 120 of FIGS. 6 and 7, is essentially identical to that of embodiment M described in the previous paragraph. Adapter 120 has its primary novelty at the upper-flange 121, the riser portion 25 and the lower-flange portion 27 of adapter 20 being duplicated within alternate adapter 120. Embodiment 8M structurally differs from embodiment M in that the lateral periphery boundaries of the adapter upperflange 1211 and of the signpost bottom-plate include notched portions extending laterally inwardly toward upright central axis A, notched portions of the adapter upper-flange 121 vertically overlying similarly notched peripheral portions of the signpost bottom-plate. The upright fastener-means, such as threaded bolts 97 engaged with nuts 17, are vertically disposed within the said overlying notched peripheral portions so as to securely, yet laterally-disengageably, attach the signpost bottom-plate to the adapter 120. Washers 1011 and hooked-discs complement and augment the upright fastener-means.

There is a substantially horizontal upper-flange 121 for alternate adapter which is attached, as by welding, to the upper end of riser 25. Upper-flange 1211 includes as the adapter upper terminus, and positioned less than about twelve inches above the earths surface, a flat substantially-uniplanar upper surface 122. Upper ange 121 has a peripheral boundary 124 including four notched portions. The said periphery completely laterally surrounds upright central axis A and also the upper end of riser 25 whereby the lateral area dened by periphery 1%24 exceeds the cross-sectional area defined by riser 25 by a factor of at least two and preferably four. The upperange lateral peripheral boundary 124 is herein substantially vertically upright between mutually parallel upper and lower surfaces 1224123 and comprises four elongate lineal edges 1414144, each of which is disposed laterally outwardly of upright central axis A. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 7, the top plan shape of upper-flange 121 is generally rectangular, and as indicated in phantom line therein, if each of the four lateral elongate edges 141-144 were extended in both directions, respective adjacent elongate linear edges would intersect substantially perpendicularly. The upper-flange periphery 124 includes four inwardly-extending notched corner portions 145-148, at the respective juncture of the four elongate linear edges. Each said notched corner portion 14S-,148 is substantially linearly-defined and preferably obtusely-angled whereby the apex inward extremity of each notch has an angular value not exceeding the range of about 90 to degrees. In all other respects, except for auxiliary holes 149, the adapter 120 is essentially similar to adapter embodiment 20.

The signpost zone 40 of marker assembly embodiment 8M is in all respects essentially similar to the signpost zone 40 of marker assembly embodiment M, except for the signpost bottom-plate. The signpost bottom-plate 41A of marker assembly embodiment 8M is in all respects essentially similar to signpost bottom-plate 41 of marker assembly embodiment M, except that bottom-plate 41A in bottom plan view is geometrically similar to the upperflange top plan view described in conjunction with FIG. 7. Thus, geometrically similar to the adapter upperflange 120, the lateral peripheral boundary of bottomplate 41A has four elongate lineal upright edges interrupted by obtusely-angled notched corner portions, the several elongate edges and the obtuse-angle apices of the upper-flange 121 and bottom-plate 41A being in vertical registry.

Highway marker assembly 8M employs four of the hooked-discs 90 shown in the FIG. 8 perspective view.

Each hooked-disc 90 comprises a circular horizontal disc 93 and an integrally attached narrower finger-like bar portion 94 that terminates remotely of disc 93 as an upright tab 95. Hooked-disc 90 has a pair of opposed horizontal planar surfaces 91 and 92 coextensive along disc portion 93 and with bar portion 94 (exclusive of tab 95). Terminal tab 95 extends uprightly downwardly a finite distance from hooked-disc elongate surface 92, the crosssectional size of upright tab 95 being less than the crosssectional size of auxiliary holes 149. Disc portion 93 has a central hole or perforation 96 extending through surfaces 91 and 92 to accommodate a vertical threaded bolt 97. The preferred structural material for hooked-disc 90 is aluminum or other metal; however, high-strength resinous materials might also be employed.

Lower surface 92 of hooked-disc 90 is superimposed upon upper ange upper surface 122, the terminal tab or hook 95 extending downwardly into a ange auxiliary hole 149 and the central hole 96 being substantially vertically aligned with a notched corner, e.g. 145, of adapter upper ange 121 and a similarly notched corner of signpost lower plate 41A. Signpost lower plate 41A is directly superimposed upon the respective upper surfaces 91 of hooked-disc 90; the lateral sides of signpost lower plate 41A are substantially conterminous with the respective lateral sides 141-144 of adapted upper flange 121 whereby the respective four notched corners of signpost lower plate `41A are in vertical registry with the several central holes 96 of the hooked-discs 90. Disposed in vertical alignment with the central hole 96 of each respective hookeddisc member 90 and abutting the upper flange lower surface 123 and the upper surface of bottom-plate 41A are a pair of centrally perforate washers 101, the central perforation of the two aligned washers 101 being in vertical registry with the central hole 96 of each hookeddisc 90. Adapter 120 is removably attached to signpost lower plate 41A with the layers 90 therebetween as by means four conventional threaded bolts 97, each bolt threadedly engaged with a nut 17, each threaded bolt vertically passing through the central perforation of a pair of washers 101 and the central hole 96 of a hooked-disc 90 and outwardly of the notched corners of lower plate 41A and adapter upper flange 121. Members 17 might take the form of a properly-torqued self-locking nut. In the event that a straying motor vehicle should strike marker assembly 8M above the upper surface of lower plate 41A, the readily laterally-disengageable attachment means (i.e. the combination of the four structures 90, the notched corners type adapter upper flange 121 and lower plate 41A, and the threaded bolts passing through a member 90 and a pair of washers 101) would prevent any substantial damage to base member 10, to the integral studs 14, and to adapter 120. Thus, following an accidental collision between an automobile and marker 8M the threaded bolts 97 would laterally disengage from the wideangle notched corners of adapter upper ange 121 and lower plate 41A. The marker 8M could be quickly and economically rebuilt utilizing the same adapter 120, replacing only the sign 40 and perhaps the members 90. Of course, the auxiliary holes 149 could be in bottom-plate 41A rather than in the adapter upper-flange, whereupon the hooked-discs 90 would be inverted with hook or tab 95 extending upwardly thereinto.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the laterally-disengageable highway marker will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An upright laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly extending loftly upwardly from the earths surface along an upright central axis and comprising:

(A) A relatively-short adapter member attachable to the earth, said adapter including a relatively narrow riser portion extending along the upright central axis above the earths surface and further including an upper-flange attached to and transversely intersecting the said riser, said adapter upper-flange having an upper surface positioned above the riser and having a peripheral boundary positioned laterally outwardly from the upper riser portion, said upperflange peripheral boundary including a plurality of notched portions each extending laterally inwardly toward the adapter riser portion;

(B) A relatively-tall signpost including an upright standard extending loftily upwardly along the upright central axis and further including a transverse bottom-plate attached to the lower end of the upright standard, said signpost bottom-plate having a lower surface overlying the upper surface of the adapter upper-flange and having a peripheral boundary positioned laterally outwardly from the upright central axis, said bottom-plate peripheral boundary including a plurality of laterally inwardly extending notched portions in vertical registry with notched portions of the adapter upper-flange; and

(C) Means for removably attaching the signpost bottom-plate to the adapter upper-flange and comprising a plurality of upright fastener-means positioned within vertically registering notched portions of the adapter upper-flange and the signpost bottom-plate and extending across the juncture of the upper-flange and the bottom-plate whereby said fastener-means are laterally outwardly disengageable from the signpost bottom-plate when the signpost upright standard is laterally struck by a motor vehicle.

2. The laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the adapter upper-flange is generally uniplanar and horizontal, said upper-ange also having a lower surface; wherein the lower surface of the signpost bottom-plate is generally uniplanar and horizontal, said bottom-plate also having an upper surface; and wherein there are centrally-perforate discs horizontally positioned between the upper surface of the adapter upper-flange and the lower surface of the signpost bottom-plate with the disc central-perforation being in vertical registry with said registering notched portions of the upper-flan ge and bottom-plate, and wherein there is a plurality of upright threaded-fasteners each of which extends through a washer at the bottom-plate upper surface, a notched portion of the bottom-plate, a said centrally-perforate disc, a notched portion of the adapter upper-flange, and another washer at the upperflange lower surface, said upright threaded-fasteners drawing the signpost bottom-plate downwardly toward the adapter upper-flange.

3. The laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly of claim 2 wherein the lateral peripheral boundary of the adapter upper-flange and of the signpost bottom-plate includes two pairs for a total of four elongate lineal edges, the two elongate linear edges of each pair being substantially parallel to each other and disposed 0n 0P- posite sides of the upright central axis to provide a generally rectangular lateral peripheral boundary for the adapter upper-flange and for the bottom-plate, the ger.- erally rectangular lateral peripheral boundary of the upper-flange and of the bottom-plate further including four laterally inwardly extending notched portions at the four respective corner areas whereby consecutively disposed elongate linear edges are interrupted by a laterally inwardly extending notched portion, each said notched portion being substantially linearly-defined and obtuselyangled whereby the apex Of each notched portion exceeds and is positioned closer to the upright central axis than are the neighboring elongate linear edges, the said obtusely-angled notched portions of the upper-flange and of the bottom-plate including the apices benig in substantial vertical registry; and wherein the upright thread- 9 ed-fasteners are positioned within respective aligned notched portions at the aligned apices.

4. The laterally-disengageable upright highway marker of claim 3 wherein the `adapter upper-ange has a lower surface that is substantially planar and horizontal from the lateral peripheral boundary to the adapter riser portion to provide a regular given-thickness for the upperange between the upper and lower surfaces thereof; wherein the signpost bottom-plate has an upper surface that is substantially planar and horizontal from the lateral peripheral boundary to the signpost upright standard; and wherein the lateral peripheral boundaries of the upper-flange and the bottom-plate are in substantial vertical alignment, the signpost bottom-plate -in overlying relationship to the adapter upper-flange providing the transitional-environment for the laterally-disengageable highwaymarker assembly.

5. The laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly of claim 4 wherein the lower portion thereof comprises a concrete base member rmly embedded into the earth, said concrete base member extending convergently upwardly from the earths surface toward said upright central axis, the concrete portion of the base member terminating as a substantially planar upper surface, said base member further integrally including a plurality of upwardly-extending parallel threaded rigid studs positioned outwardly of and parallel to the upright central axis; wherein the said adapter includes a horizontal lower-flange having a substantially planar lower surface as the adapter lower end and integrally attached to the adapter riser portion, said adapter lower-flange having a peripheral boundary laterally surrounding the upright central axis and positioned laterally outwardly from the narrower riser portion, said adapter lower-flange being vertically perforate in registry with the upwardly-extending rigid studs of the base member, said base mem-ber studs extending upwardly through the lower-Hange perforations whereby the attachment between the base member Iand the adapter is CII 10 more resistant to lateral forces exerted against the signpost upright standard than is the attachment between the adapter and the signpost bottom-plate.

6. The laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly of claim 4 wherein the centrally-perforate disc portion of the attachment means includes a thin horizontal linger-like bar attached to the disc and extending toward the upright central axis, said thin horizontal bar toward the upright central axis terminating as an upright hooklike tab that extends uprightly into an upright auxiliary hole of the transitional-environment positioned between the upright central axis and the disc.

7. The laterally-disengageable highway marker assembly of claim 5 wherein the centrally-perforate disc and the finger-like bar are metallic and generally occupy a single horizontal plane; wherein the adapter upper-flange portion of the transitional-environment has a downwardly-extending hole disposed along each imaginary horizontal line connecting the notch apex to the upright central axis whereby each said downwardly-extending hole Of the upper-ilange receives the upright terminal hook-like tab of the finger-like bar.

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